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Posted on: 12 November, 2014

Council to look at new separate bike path around Airlie Lagoon

Whitsunday Regional Council today resolved to consider the installation of a new bike path aroundthe Airlie Lagoon as part of the 2015-16 budget.

Mayor Jenny Whitney said complaints and safety issues have been raised with Council aboutcyclists travelling through the busy family precinct of the Airlie Lagoon.

“As such, Council officers have investigated the installation of a dedicated cycle path around theoutside of the lagoon precinct,” she said.

“This option would have the benefit of separating lagoon users and children more effectively than selecting either one of the two existing pathways through the precinct, as a dedicated cycle path.

“Council is of the opinion that if a separate bike path is not established it will only result in anincrease in accidents and incidents involving cyclists and lagoon users, many of whom are young children.

“The preferred pathway around the outside of the lagoon precinct, next to the ocean, will enablecyclists to move from the Broadwater car park to the Airlie Central car park.

“The distance of this proposed bike path is approximately 340m long and 2.5m wide with anestimated cost of $200/linear metre which is $68,000.

“The proposed bike path around the outside of the lagoon may need a 1.2m fence where it iswithin 5m of the rock wall to comply with Australian standards.

“The estimated cost of installing a fence on the outside edge of the bike path is estimated to costapproximately $7,000,” she said

The final route of the bike path will be considered by Council as part of next year’s budgetdeliberations, in the meantime improved signage will be installed and increased compliance oflagoon rules will be enforced.